BITCOIN IS FOR CRIMINALS

BE ALERT

The following case studies are real life examples of the ways criminals have used bitcoin across the globe.

As a warning, you may find some of the illicit activicy descrimed below alarming.

Proceed with caution.

About Bitcoin

The Bitcoin network is the world's largest and most secure computer network. 100% of global Bitcoin node operators are unregulated. As a result, no single government, bank, or corporation can control it.

Furthermore, the network's native token, bitcoin, is entirely permissionless. It is impossible to stop criminals from using it because of the aformentioned decentralized network. While most "bitcoiners" use this native token as an alternative money, due to it's limited supply and savings value, many use it for illicit purposes.

We are hard at work highlighting high profile, international cases so the public is aware of the many ways criminals use this network.

High Profile Bitcoin Criminals

Alexei Navalny

  • Exposing corruption among Russian officials - a serious offense that landed him in jail multiple times
  • Organizing anti-corruption protests and rallies
  • Creating the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) to investigate and report on graft
  • Supporting electoral reform and advocating for free and fair elections - a seditious act, apparently
  • Using social media to mobilize opposition to the Kremlin - a clever tactic, but definitely against the rules

Alexei Navalny's movement received significant bitcoin donations. In 2021, it was reported that his cause received nearly $300,000 worth of bitcoin donations, surpassing the total amount received in 2020. This highlights the use of cryptocurrency as a means to support opposition movements and circumvent traditional financial channels.

Roya Mahboob

  • Founding the Afghan Citadel Software Company, a pioneering IT firm in Afghanistan - a bold move in a male-dominated industry
  • Creating the Digital Citizen Fund to promote IT education among Afghan girls and women - a subversive act
  • Advocating for women's rights and opportunities in Afghanistan
  • Being a vocal proponent of technology as a tool for social change
  • Inspiring a new generation of Afghan women to pursue careers in tech - a revolutionary act

Roya Mahboob has discussed cryptocurrency in the context of education and Afghanistan. She has admitted to paying developers in bitcoin specifically so they could custody their own money.

Farida Nabourema

  • Founding the "Faure Must Go" movement at the age of 20, calling for civil resistance against the dictatorial regime of Faure GnassingbĂ© in Togo
  • Organizing and supporting Togolese youths to stand against the authoritarian government
  • Writing over 300 articles on her blog and other sites, denouncing corruption, dictatorship, and neocolonialism
  • Being a vocal advocate for democracy and human rights in Togo since her teenage years
  • Using her writing and activism to promote Pan-Africanism and challenge the status quo

Farida Nabourema is using Bitcoin to liberate herself and others from abusive monetary systems. She has spoken about the potential of Bitcoin to promote financial freedom and challenge authoritarian regimes. As a Pan-African activist, Nabourema sees Bitcoin as a tool for empowerment and a means to challenge the existing financial order.

Julian Assange

  • Founding WikiLeaks, a platform that exposed secret and classified information
  • Publishing sensitive documents, such as the Afghan War Diary and the Iraq War Logs, that shed light on the darker aspects of war and human rights abuses
  • Collaborating with whistleblowers and sources to bring important information to the public - a subversive act
  • Challenging the authority of governments and institutions by making their secrets public
  • Being a vocal advocate for transparency and government accountability

Julian Assange and WikiLeaks have accepted Bitcoin donations. In fact, WikiLeaks began accepting Bitcoin in 2011, and it has been a significant source of funding for the organization. The use of Bitcoin allowed WikiLeaks to receive donations from around the world, bypassing traditional financial channels and censorship.

Maria Corina Machado

  • Being a vocal opponent of the Venezuelan government and its authoritarian tendencies
  • Advocating for democratic reforms and human rights in Venezuela
  • Calling for the banning of reelection to political offices in Venezuela
  • Supporting same-sex marriage and the legalization of medical cannabis in Venezuela
  • Being a strong advocate for women's rights and empowerment in Venezuela

Maria Corina Machado has actively supported the Human Rights Foundation's call to send bitcoin to Venezuelan citizens who are starving due to hyperinflation.

Win Ko Ko Aung

  • Being a Burmese activist and advocating for human rights in Myanmar
  • Pursuing a Master's degree in Data Science for Public Policy at Georgetown University as a McCourt Scholar
  • Receiving a Human Rights Fellowship from the Bitcoin Policy Institute to contribute to research into the intersection of Bitcoin and human rights
  • Writing for Bitcoin Magazine and other publications on topics related to Bitcoin, human rights, and Myanmar

Win Ko Ko Aung has been awarded a Human Rights Fellowship by the Bitcoin Policy Institute. He is contributing to the Institute's research into the intersection of Bitcoin and human rights. His work highlights the potential of Bitcoin to promote human rights and freedom, particularly in contexts where traditional financial systems may be restrictive or inaccessible.

Edward Snowden

  • Whistleblowing on the NSA's mass surveillance programs, revealing the extent of government spying on citizens
  • Leaking classified documents to the press, including the revelations about PRISM and XKeyscore - a move that challenged the status quo and held those in power accountable
  • Exposing the complicity of tech companies in government surveillance programs - a significant revelation that raised important questions about the relationship between government and industry
  • Highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability in government surveillance practices - a stance that has inspired a new generation of activists and advocates
  • Being a vocal advocate for privacy and human rights in the digital age

Edward Snowden has been a vocal supporter of Bitcoin and has discussed its potential as a tool for promoting financial privacy and freedom. In a 2020 interview with the New York Times, Snowden praised Bitcoin's decentralized nature and its potential to resist government control. While there is no evidence that Snowden has directly used Bitcoin for personal gain or to fund his activities, his endorsement of the cryptocurrency has contributed to its growing recognition as a tool for promoting financial freedom and privacy.

Countries Where Bitcoin is Illegal

The following is a list of countries in which bitcoin is illegal for any purposes. Interestingly, this list is almost a mirror list of the countries in which bitcoin adoption is growing the fastest. One might look to these nations as the most progressive if bitcoin is bad for society.

China

Afghanistan

Pakistan

Saudi Arabia

Tunisia

Bolivia

Historical Figures and Resistance Money

The following is a list of criminals, some with HUGE rapsheets, that likely would have used bitcoin to avoid the financial system of their day.

Martin Luther King Jr.

King was jailed multiple times for his illicit activity promoting racial equality. It is easy to imagine this criminal using bitcoin to circumvent the traditional financial system in a manner similar to Navalny or Machado.

Nelson Mandela

Mandela spent years in jail for opposing segregation. The townships that he was advocating for are now among the largest adopters of bitcoin as a payment method in the whole world.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Criminal and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi is still alive, but serving out her life sentence for crimes against the Junta in Burma. She would no-doubt be glad to know about the ways criminals have been using bitcoin to subvert the Junta in her country.

Harriet Tubman

If you've ever studied anything about American history, this one is basically a "duh" situation.

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